I wonder if I should be spreading my mind across the Internet searching for what the astrological charts, mystics or latest new age teachers are prophesizing for the New Year. I wonder if I should be making lists of all the things I intend to do, or lists banishing all the things I shouldn’t do. I wonder if I should be stepping on the scale and measuring my waistline or cleaning out my desk drawers. I should probably be focusing on a new vision for my business, but I do that every month. Should I be focusing on change, change, change, resolution, resolution, resolution? Change is defined as to make or become different. Resolution is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something. I think it is a tall order, for myself at least, to be something different, or assume that I can hold a years of resolutions on one list. I have a pretty good idea of what I will do throughout the year, but I have much less understanding of what is coming my way. Two years ago I ‘resoluted’ to improve my health, then midway through that year I was given one hell of a diagnosis. You never know what you are going to get, so much of life is uncertain. I am rather fond of the mystery, seeing what life has for me without too much negotiation or assumption of control, even if at times it comes wrapped in barbwire, I’ll open to the surprise of it.
At dinner, my family and I discussed the New Year in terms of the creation of time and the industrialized world, traditional celebrations for the New Year, evolution of life on Earth, God as creator, Nature as creator, the planetary cycles that occur in one year, the fact that our sun is a star that can fit 1.3 millions Earths within in. I must say that I have two amazing theorists, theologists and scientists in the making. It became a beautiful reminder that as we shift into another number we are witnessing a universal process of life that has been naturally occurring and changing for billions of years. .….makes my waistline seem pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things. We opted to refer to the New Year as Happy 12 moons, this phase is the completion of all moons and the beginning of a new series. Our new title of the holiday feels like a timeless celebration and with our shifted perspective came a different awareness and new meaning, seems a perfect practice for turning the dial.
I choose to enter the New Year, not with a resolution, but a conscious entry into another season or cycle of my life, one I am stepping into with a commitment to awareness, a commitment to witnessing and accepting the natural process of life. This is the part of the practice, whether of body, mind, or spirit that is often over looked and undervalued as we focus on the doing or achieving. Everything starts with awareness. The second we become aware of tension in the shoulders, it softens. The second we become aware of an unhealthy thought or reaction, we begin to interrupt the cycle of conditioned psyche. The second the flight of a bird takes our breath away, spirit has pulled us into her realm of magnificence. It didn’t require the perfect posture, the perfect therapist, or a course of enlightenment, it required awareness, a deep, refined attunement to the quality of experience that is occurring within every moment, with every breath. The beautiful thing about sitting in awareness is when we allow ourselves to be with it long enough, it showers us with peace, clarity, acceptance of what is, good or bad, and it invites us into a graceful wisdom of understanding our unique way in the world. Through this awareness, we have the ability to watch our life and make more conscious choices. Perhaps that is the root of New Years resolutions, to make better choices. With the mindful practice, we don’t resolve to make a few better choices, such as eating better or avoiding toxic relationships, but we resolve to live more awakened in all that we do. To me, this is a daily, lifetime practice, to truly embody the work, to be as aware as possible, as present as possible. Of course, I support everybody’s way in the world, and if for you that means beautiful and exciting lists of resolutions, go get them, I believe in you, really I do, but I also offer you to pay attention to everything amazing that you have already done, and to sit with how amazing you already are in this moment right now! Do it, close your eyes, breathe in deeply to your belly, to your heart and feel who you are, be aware of who you are without changing or resolutions.
According to nature’s winter wisdom, this time of year is for stillness and inner space as the earth warms the seeds from last year’s harvest in her magnificent belly below the frosted horizon. As I align with natures intentions for the shift, I can’t but help want to burrow into the shadows and learn to see in the dark. I don’t want to undergo a super hero change. I want to know my life and myself more deeply, just the way it is. To live with whatever life hands me and contemplate its meaning. If I were to commit to a practice throughout the year it would be to continue learning through mindful awareness and the wisdom that is born from observation, acceptance and attunement to presence. I don’t want to be a seed or the flower, but rather the process between the two, and that comes from being, from witnessing, and from leaning into the experience. May you enjoy the process too.
Happy turn of 12 moons
Namaste, Aho, Blessings,
Robin Afinowich
